Ze'ev Reches and collaborators study earthquake instability and fault weakening mechanisms using electron microscopy. They find phase transformation and nano-size grains are associated with profound weakening, resolving two major conflicts in laboratory results and natural faulting.
Scientists used seismic data from 227 East Asia earthquakes to image depths up to 900 kilometers, revealing hidden structures like a high velocity colossus beneath the Tibetan plateau and a deep mantle upwelling in Mongolia. The study could help find hidden hydrocarbon resources and explore the Earth's interior.
Researchers from University of Hawai'i - Mānoa discover that larger dust particles in comet Wild 2 are similar to rocks found in primitive meteorites called chondrites. The smaller-sized dust displays a range of oxygen isotopic compositions, deepening the mystery of Wild 2's past.
Research at ETH Zurich reveals that wider seismogenic zones increase the probability of a supercycle occurring, characterized by several large earthquakes and eventually a giant earthquake. The study proposes a new explanation for the gradual rupture phenomenon, suggesting that physical stresses build up rapidly at the edges of the zone.
MIT researchers explain India's rapid move toward Eurasia 80 million years ago by the combination of two subduction zones. The team found relics of what may have been two subduction zones in rocks from the Himalayan region, which led them to develop a model for a double subduction system.
Researchers have imaged the continuous volcanic plumbing system under Yellowstone, revealing a reservoir of hot, partly molten rock 12-28 miles beneath the surface. The new discovery is 4.4 times larger than the previously known magma chamber.
A team of researchers from Arizona State University found that Tau Ceti, a popular candidate for supporting life, is unlikely to have planets in the habitable zone. The star's high magnesium-to-silicon ratio could lead to unique planetary compositions and potentially habitable worlds with different geological processes.
A SMU-led seismology team reveals that high volumes of wastewater injection combined with saltwater extraction from natural gas wells is the most likely cause of earthquakes occurring near Azle, Texas. The study used a sophisticated 3D model to assess fluid pressure changes in the affected area.
A new study has discovered that mighty mosasaurs, which could grow up to 50 feet long, likely gave birth to their young in the open ocean, not on or near shore. This groundbreaking finding answers a long-held question about the initial environment of this iconic predator.
A team of scientists plans to take core samples from the Chicxulub impact crater, 65.5 million years old and associated with the mass extinction event that wiped out dinosaurs. The expedition will aim to uncover details about the impact and shed light on the mechanisms of large impacts on Earth and other rocky planets.
John Anderson's work has contributed to the development of strong-motion earthquake data networks globally, including Mexico, Turkey, Los Angeles, and Eastern U.S. His research on seismic hazard assessment and ground-motion prediction equations has also informed policy for improved seismic safety.
A new study by University of Utah researchers reveals the existence of an unknown layer inside Earth's lower mantle, where rock gets three times stiffer. This stiffness increase may explain why slabs of sinking tectonic plates stall and thicken at a depth of 930 miles underground.
Researchers discovered two seafloor gateways that allow warm ocean water to reach the base of Totten Glacier in East Antarctica. This finding explains the glacier's rapid thinning and raises concerns about sea level rise. The study highlights the importance of understanding the role of oceanic gateways in glacier melting.
A new study suggests that Antarctic glaciers are more sensitive to climate change than previously thought due to Coulomb friction. The West Antarctic Ice Sheet's melting rate is significantly increased when accounting for frictional stresses, which can lead to accelerated sea-level rise.
A University of Oklahoma research team found a link between severe weather and feather malformations in young birds. The study revealed that the stress caused by hailstones during a tornado led to abnormal nitrogen levels in the developing feathers, resulting in 'pallid bands'.
Researchers have found combustion water in Salt Lake City's winter inversions, with cars and home heating being the largest sources. The study provides a new method for measuring greenhouse gas emissions and studying urban weather.
A recent study found that earthquake activity near injection wells in the Williston Basin is scarce compared to Texas, where similar activities have been linked to increased seismicity. The study's authors attribute this difference to regional variations in geology and injection practices.
Seismic investigations reveal extreme mantle perturbation and crust-mantle interaction in Eastern China's Qinling-Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt. The region was affected by compressional deformation due to collision between North and South China blocks.
Researchers have created a new method to observe subsurface structures using ambient ocean waves, offering real-time monitoring of offshore oil and gas fields with less disruption to marine life. This technique reduces costs and environmental concerns associated with traditional seismic surveys.
A new study by Andrew J. Retzler and colleagues presents a revised map characterizing the size and shape of the Alamo crater. The researchers estimate the crater's diameter to be between 111 and 150 km, more than double previous estimates. This places the Alamo crater as one of the largest marine impacts in the last 550 million years.
Researchers at MIT found that injected carbon dioxide only partially converts to rock, with the majority remaining in a gaseous form. This limitation poses challenges for long-term sequestration efforts.
A new study reveals that dinosaurs remained diverse in European ecosystems until the end of the Cretaceous period. Fossils from Spain, France, and other countries show that meat-eating and plant-eating species were present and thriving during the final few hundred thousand years before the asteroid impact.
A new study suggests that water is bound to sulfates in Martian soil, a key finding with implications for the search for life on Mars. The research team analyzed elemental data from the Gamma Ray Spectrometer onboard the Mars Odyssey orbiter and found a spatial association between sulfur and hydrogen in the southern latitudes of Mars.
Researchers found sections of the Tohoku fault were relieving seismic stress at an accelerating rate for years before the 9.0 magnitude quake, potentially shortening its occurrence time. The study used GPS measurements from a dense Japanese network to analyze decoupling and stress transfer along the fault line.
Researchers propose that a hot layer above the Earth's mantle, known as the asthenosphere, is responsible for volcanic eruptions in mid-plate regions. This challenge traditional theory, which posits that volcanoes are caused by plate movement and heat from deep within the Earth.
The GOCE satellite provided accurate gravity field measurements, enabling scientists to image the planet in a new way. Researchers are sharpening the picture of our dynamic planet with studies in geophysics, ocean circulation, climate change, and civil engineering.
Researchers analyzed 1,400 damage sites to determine relationships between ground deformation and faults. They found evidence of reverse movement along preexisting faults, which caused widespread ground deformation in the San Andreas fault region.
A new analysis suggests a massive tectonic shift may have led to the sudden appearance of almost all modern animal groups, contradicting Charles Darwin's hypothesis of gradual evolution. Fossil records from the Cambrian explosion document rapid evolution of life on Earth.
Scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution discover evidence of water on Earth dating back to the planet's formation. The findings suggest that Earth formed as a wet planet with water on its surface.
A research team led by UT Austin is studying frozen methane under the Gulf of Mexico, a substance with huge potential to increase the world's energy supply. The four-year project will acquire intact samples to better understand how to produce these deposits and unlock their enormous energy resources.
Nathaniel Putzig, a senior research scientist at SwRI, has been awarded the NASA Planetary Science Early Career Fellowship for his work on detecting ground ice within sand dunes across the southern hemisphere of Mars. The grant will support his research project using morphologic and thermal data.
Researchers develop models to identify migratory patterns of species and find they do not stay put over millions of years. UC geologists also recreate ancient Ohio environments using mud cracks and deposits, providing insights into significant ecological change.
Experts urge greater investment in ocean research to address pressing marine-related issues. The declaration sets a five-year roadmap for integrated policy-oriented ocean scrutiny and identifies four key policy goals: valuing the ocean, capitalizing on European leadership, advancing ocean knowledge, and breaking scientific barriers.
A new map of the world's seafloor has been created using satellite data, revealing thousands of previously uncharted sea mountains and providing new clues about deep ocean structures. The map, which is twice as accurate as the previous version, also reveals details of continental connections across South America and Africa.
Researchers from MIT and other institutions found the Procellarum region on the moon's near side was formed by a large plume of magma deep within the moon's interior. The angular outline of the basin could not have been created by an asteroid impact, according to the team.
Researchers directly observed multiple parts of Greenland's subglacial plumbing system and found that it adapts to increased meltwater over the course of the summer season. The findings suggest that a component of the system is changing in response to climate change, potentially slowing down the ice sheet's movement towards the sea.
A team of Clemson University researchers will use a $5.25 million grant from the US Department of Energy to advance nuclear monitoring, remediation and disposal technologies in South Carolina. The project aims to address key scientific issues related to radioactive contaminants and develop integrative models for radionuclide transport.
A UT Arlington professor will use a $400,000 CAREER grant to team with Teach for America and create a geophysics-based curriculum for secondary school teachers. The project aims to improve scientists' preparation and increase predictability of hazards associated with future earthquake events.
The Great Barrier Reef is an effective wave absorber, driving currents that transport nutrients and larvae. Wave reduction also has implications for shoreline stability. The reef's porosity varies by location, influencing wave height reduction.
Researchers confirm that textbook theory behind volcanoes is incorrect, with no evidence for narrow mantle plumes. Instead, large, slow-moving chunks of mantle drive volcano formation through plate tectonics.
Mantle plumes may be responsible for breaking up continents, according to a new study. The researchers used high-resolution computer simulations to demonstrate how the interaction between a plume and a plate under tensile stress can lead to continental breakup, forming rift systems and creating volcanoes.
Scientists at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution used GPS technology to track uplift caused by the severe drought, estimating a water deficit of 62 trillion gallons. This has resulted in an average uplift of 4 millimeters across the western US and up to 15 millimeters in California's mountains.
Researchers analyzed near-real-time data from the April 1 earthquake in Iquique, Chile, and found that it occurred on a fault gap not ruptured since 1877. The study suggests that while the current stress was not released during the quake, it leaves open the possibility of another significant event.
A recent study reveals that human activity is a significant contributor to glacier mass loss, with a notable increase in recent decades. The research suggests that only about one quarter of global glacier mass loss between 1851 and 2010 was due to anthropogenic causes, but this fraction rose to two-thirds during the last two decades.
Researchers from Yale University analyzed the eye structure of an extinct sea scorpion, finding that it had a basic visual acuity level but worsened with size. The study suggests the creature was not a top predator but may have been a scavenger hunting at night.
The Geological Society of America recognized Susan Kieffer, Lisa Tauxe, Francis Macdonald as GSA's highest honors for their seminal research contributions to various geosciences. The awards were presented at the 2014 Annual Meeting & Exposition in Vancouver, Canada.
A new study published in Science finds that subsurface wastewater injection is likely causing the dramatic increase in earthquakes in central Oklahoma since 2009. The research suggests that adherence to standard best practices can reduce the risk of inducing seismicity.
Researchers found evidence of seasonal cycles on Saturn's moon Titan, with temperature and sunlight driving surface changes. The discovery supports the idea that liquid methane might flow and evaporate in response to changing exposure to sunlight.
Researchers developed a method to accurately measure groundwater levels using satellite data, overcoming the challenges of traditional monitoring wells. This breakthrough provides valuable data for managing water resources and will improve models for scenarios like population growth and droughts.
Thwaites Glacier is melting at a rate accelerated by geothermal heat from beneath the ice sheet. The researchers used radar techniques to map water flow under the glacier and identified significant sources of geothermal heat over a wider area than previously assumed.
New analysis of Moon rocks indicates regional variations in water content, providing insights into lunar formation and crust cooling processes. The study suggests that the Moon's water may have originated from both Earth and comets/asteroids, with implications for understanding the source of Earth's water.
A new study has redefined the geology of O'ahu, revealing that it consists of three major Hawaiian shield volcanoes. The island's precursor volcano, Ka'ena, was previously unknown and formed over 100 km west of its current location.
A new study suggests that the maximum earthquake magnitude scales with the maturity of a fault, putting limits on seismic hazard for less mature parts of fault zones. The study found that older sections of transform faults produce the largest earthquakes, such as the North Anatolian Fault Zone and the San Andreas Fault.
A team of researchers analyzed 25 Kīlauea eruptions over the past 600 years to determine that the variability in deep magma composition strongly influences eruption styles. The study found that more gas-rich magmas produce explosive eruptions.
Parts of ancient Antarctica reached temperatures similar to today's California coast and Florida heat due to high CO2 levels. The study used a new method to measure past temperatures, providing insights into the sensitivity of the climate system to greenhouse gases.
A University of Utah-led study reveals that a curvy jet stream pattern, bringing mild temperatures to the US West and harsh cold to the East, became more pronounced 4,000 years ago. This pattern may worsen as Earth's climate warms, contributing to extreme winter weather events.
A new study by McGill University professor Shaun Lovejoy uses statistical analysis to determine the probability that global warming since 1880 is due to natural variability. The study concludes that the natural-warming hypothesis can be ruled out with confidence levels greater than 99%, and most likely greater than 99.9%.
Researchers have discovered a mid-Cretaceous greenhouse world, with superhigh sea-surface temperatures that prevailed during the Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a. Additionally, scientists have identified impact spherules in Karelia, Russia, which may be linked to the 2.02 Ga Vredefort impact event.
A team of MIT researchers suggests that methane-producing archaea, specifically Methanosarcina, were responsible for the largest mass extinction in Earth's history. The microbe's explosive growth was fueled by a sudden increase in nickel, emitted by massive volcanic eruptions.
New radar measurements suggest Ligeia Mare on Titan is eerily still, with surface waves smaller than one millimeter. The solid terrain surrounding the sea may be composed of solid organic materials instead of frozen water, similar to Earth's early evolution.